CMBS Issuance Soars, Delinquency TumblesQuarterly securitizations of commercial real estate loans have moved sharply higher over the past year. Transactions secured by hotels led an improvement in delinquency.

Fraud Less Likely On ARMs Than Fixed-Rate LoansA report that measures the risk of fraud on home-loan applications says that risk on loans with adjustable rates is lower than on fixed-rate mortgages. The report indicated a year-over-year rise in overall risk.

Barclays Agrees to Subprime RMBS SettlementBarclays has agreed to a multi-billion-dollar settlement to resolve allegations that it misled investors about the quality of non-prime residential mortgage-backed securities.

Uniform GSE MBS Implementation Date SetAn implementation date for the new uniform mortgage-backed security to be utilized by issuers of both government-sponsored enterprises' MBS has been set by their regulator.

Surge in Purchase Financing Drives Up Mortgage BizA sharp weekly increase in prospective loans to finance a home purchase to the highest level in six months drove new mortgage business to the highest level in more than four months. Conventional business was the best it's been in nine months.

2017 Biggest Mortgage Lenders and ServicersIn the latest ranking of mortgage lenders and servicers, non-bank lenders gave up market share last year as overall mortgage originations turned lower on a quarterly and annual basis.

CMBS Delinquency DeclinesThe rate of late payments on securitized commercial real estate loans declined last month, though there was deterioration on apartment and retail property loans.

New Home Inventory Largest in 9 YearsEven though there was little change in national new home sales, sales sank in the West and soared in the Northeast. The inventory of new homes for sale reached a 9-year high.

West Leads Rise in Existing Home SalesA jump in the sale of pre-owned homes last month in the West led an overall national gain. In the Northeast, however, there was a significant slump amid brutal weather conditions.

Mortgage Bankers Cut Q2 Purchase ForecastMortgage bankers have lowered their outlook for the second-quarter volume of loans made to finance a home purchase, though there was a slight bump in projected refinances.

Growing Non-QM Wholesaler Adding TX StaffA wholesaler that has capitalized on the origination of loans that don't meet the requirements for Qualified Mortgages has opened a new Texas facility with plans to hire dozens of new employees.

Mortgage Refi Outlook Rises for 1Q, 4Q-2017Refinance production during the final-three months of last year and the first-three months of this year is stronger than previously thought. The improvement carried up overall originations.

Fannie Addresses Layered Risk High DTIsA growing share of loans with high debt-to-income ratios and other high risk factors has recently concerned mortgage insurers and prompted a policy change at Fannie Mae.

M.I. Firms Warn About Freddie PilotThe nation's mortgage insurance companies are warning about a new pilot program that enables Freddie Mac to bypass traditional mortgage insurance.

Refi Share Wider Despite Record Low Rate-TermA modest weekly drop in new mortgage business was led by adjustable-rate mortgages. Government share widened, as did refinance share thanks to a gain in cashouts that more than offset a record-low rate-term share.

Multifamily Drives Down Permits, New ConstructionMultifamily activity drove down overall housing permits and new construction last month, though there was an increase in completed apartment buildings. Construction activity in the Northeast was exceptionally strong.

GSE Refinances Sink to 6-Month LowMonthly refinances of government-sponsored enterprise mortgages plunged to the lowest level in six months as government-supported refinance volume fell to a new low.

4-Month Low for Home Builder ConfidenceSlowing buyer traffic drove U.S. home builder confidence to the lowest level in four months, though the degree of confidence still remains solid. The Midwest deteriorated most.

11-Month High for Mortgage DelinquencyMortgage delinquency ascended to the highest level in 11 months as loan performance continues to be impacted by last year's hurricanes. Foreclosures held steady, though.

NAACP Warns Bill Threatens Anti-DiscriminationCommunity banks say that a warning from a civil rights group about pending legislation to overhaul the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is much ado about nothing.

Warren Warns About Dodd-Frank OverhaulThe architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is warning that pending legislation to ease regulations for financial institution could lead to more government bailouts.

Mortgage Service Provider HiringA mortgage service provider has some aggressive hiring plans -- with around a hundred positions expected to be filled in the next month.

Guaranteed Rate Lays Off Production EmployeesMore than a hundred employees have been laid off by Guaranteed Rate Inc. But the company says that it still has plans to hire more new employees this year than in any other previous year.

Refinances Restrain Weekly Mortgage ActivityAn improvement in weekly purchase-money business wasn't enough to offset a drop in refinances. Meantime, the share of activity for loans to veterans fell to the lowest level in seven months.

Refis Nudge Mortgage Applications HigherA slight up tick in weekly mortgage applications was driven by increased refinance activity. Meanwhile, veterans' share of applications was thinner than it's been in four months.

RBS Reaches Another RMBS SettlementA unit of the Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to settle allegations that it misrepresented the quality of residential mortgage-backed securities to investors prior to the financial crisis.

HUD Selling Vacant Property LoansMore than $100 million in formerly government-insured mortgages secured by the vacant properties of deceased borrowers are being auctioned.

Dodd-Frank Overhaul Bill Advances in SenateLegislation that could roll back some of the more burdensome provisions of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act could be approved as early as this week.

CMBS Delinquency SinksWhile there was little change in performance on commercial real estate loans owned by life insurers, securitized CRE loan delinquency plunged. The rates were mixed for loans backed by the government-sponsored enterprises.

Compliance Tech Addresses HMDA, TRID and QCMortgage service providers are helping home lenders with quality control and complying with the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and the TILA-RESPA Integrated disclosures. One product is targeting California per-diem restrictions, while another addresses New York's new security requirements.

Refi Surge Leads Mortgage Business HigherNew mortgage activity ascended from the holiday week, and a sudden surge of strength in refinance business was out front of the improvement. Adjustable-rate activity also accelerated.

HMDA Compliance Among LOS EnhancementsInnovations in loan origination systems include a new interview platform, compliance with changes to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act reporting requirements and lots of new integrations.

Mortgage Rates Up But Could TumbleMortgage rates made a modest weekly ascension. While the long-term economic outlook has interest rates on residential loans climbing, the short-term forecast is for a sharp drop.

Hotels Lead CMBS 30-Day Rate to Nearly 2-Year LowA sharp decline in hotel late payments led overall delinquency on securitized commercial real estate loans to the lowest level in nearly two years. Apartment loan performance, however, deteriorated.